Press Release Nov 18, 2021

Building Parks Back Better is Within Arm’s Reach

The House of Representatives has voted for historic investments addressing climate change in national parks.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the House of Representatives voted to pass the Build Back Better Act, a $1.75 trillion social spending bill which includes vital funding to protect national parks and communities from climate change.

Climate change is the greatest threat facing our national parks – studies show that national parks are warming twice as fast as the rest of the country, and surrounding communities are bearing the brunt of these impacts.

Statement of Chad Lord, Senior Director of Environmental Policy and Climate Change for The National Parks Conservation Association:

“Build Back Better is a historic opportunity to help protect our national parks and communities from climate change. This is the biggest investment ever made to address climate change at national parks. For years, NPCA has fought for many of the provisions in this bill, including funds for our clean energy future and climate resilience tools to safeguard parks from increasingly heavy floods, fires, and drought.

“Climate change is the most serious threat to all national parks, but tonight’s House vote shows we have a hope of confronting it. We are grateful to leaders in the House of Representatives for voting for immediate action on climate. Now the Senate must rise to meet this moment for our parks, communities, and the world. The opportunity is within arm’s reach.”

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About the National Parks Conservation Association: Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its nearly 1.6 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.

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